 Cancun is the gateway to the fascinating Mayan world. In its surrounding areas, you can visit interesting archaeological zones and islands with calm waters, which offer ideal beaches for relaxing . You can also check out various theme parks with a wide variety of attractions: sinkholes, underground rivers, and bird sanctuaries surrounded by the region’s lush vegetation.
Side Trips From Cancun – Go to the Embarcadero, take the Garrafon Cruise or any of the boats departing from Puerto Juarez, Punta Sam, or Playa Linda to visit Isla Mujeres. Just 14 kilometers (8.6 miles) off Cancun’s coast, it is one of the most attractive destinations of the Mexican Caribbean. The island is 5 miles long and 1 mile wide.
While you’re there, you can do some shopping downtown, where you’ll find many souvenir shops. On the southern part of the island, you can visit Parque Natural Garrafon, where you can go snorkeling, hiking, and if you’re looking for something more exciting, you can do some Tyrolean rappelling. During your tour of the park, don’t forget to visit the ruins of an ancient temple built to pay homage to Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of fertility.
After having returned to Cancun, you can do a trip to Cozumel, where you can visit the Parque Nacional de Arrecifes, considered a great destination for scuba diving. It also offers such attractions as ancient Mayan temples located in the island’s northern region, a sanctuary built to honor Mayan goddess Ixchel, the Cozumel Island Museum, the botanical garden of Chankanaab and ecological reserve Punta Sur, where you can see different plant and animal species that live in mangroves and lagoons.
After all that, you can return to Puerto Morelos and take a tour of the Mayan Riviera, which should include a visit to Playa del Carmen, a city where you can enjoy beautiful scenery, restaurants and other establishments and attractions.
Soon after, you’ll want to pay a visit to Xcaret, which has a beach area, an underground river system, an aquarium, a so-called dolphinarium, a butterfly pavilion, an orchid greenhouse, and a bee farm. The park also offers an archaeological zone and a recreation of a Mayan village. At night, you can enjoy a Mayan ball game, a dance show and traditional Mexican music. About 45 minutes from Cancun, Puerto Aventuras is the ideal spot to golf by the Caribbean, swim, or kayak.
Some 21 miles away is Akumal, known for its white-sand beaches and crystalline blue waters, the perfect place to get rest and relaxation and have close contact with nature.
Finally, we recommend a visit to Xel-Ha Park, one of the best places to snorkel, particularly in its main lagoon and in the underground rivers. You can also swim with dolphins. Xel-Ha has all the services to meet your needs as a guest.
Of course, the tour wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the ancient Mayan city Tulum. Its beautiful structures that overlook the sea are sure to leave a lasting impression.
Another route you can take during your stay in Cancun leads to the western part of the Yucatan Peninsula. As you follow Route 180, the first stop is Chichen Itza, an ancient Mayan capital where the monumental architecture and a sacred sinkhole offer proof of the grandeur of Mayan culture. The tour ends 120 kilometers (75 miles) ahead in Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan. There you can find history, culture, entertainment, museums, crafts and shopping malls as you walk around on the streets full of traditional and modernity. |
